Rex Ryan on standing for the national anthem: 'Our way of giving thanks'

Gary Wiepert / AP

Bills head coach Rex Ryan answers questions during a news conference after a preseason game on Aug. 20, 2016.

Bills head coach Rex Ryan answers questions during a news conference after a preseason game on Aug. 20, 2016.

(Gary Wiepert / AP)

Jake RussellThe Washington Post

In the aftermath of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision not to stand for the national anthem this NFL preseason, Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan voiced his opinion on "The Star-Spangled Banner," suggesting that he highly encourages his players to stand when the song is being played.

"I think first off, it's an important thing for me," Ryan said at a Sunday news conference. "I think it's a way of showing respect for the men and women who have served our country and are currently serving our country and that's kind of how I look at it. But I have and I understand now that there's some religious beliefs that don't necessarily allow that. I had a player, he was really distraught over it, came up and saw me, and I'm like. 'Hey look, you've got to do . . .'"

"Anytime I talk to my team about that, if there's personal beliefs or whatever that keep you from doing it, I understand," Ryan said. "But at the same time, you know, you've got to look at the gifts that we have, the opportunity that we have to play a great game is through the men and women that serve our country. I think that's an opportunity right there just to show respect, and I think that's why when you see our team, every one of us are on that line and that's kind of our way of giving thanks."

Ryan isn't the only coach who has strong beliefs on the topic. In a recent episode of HBO's hit series "Hard Knocks," Los Angeles Rams Coach Jeff Fisher went over his ground rules for standing during the anthem.

"This is important to me," Fisher told his team. "It's a respect thing, okay? It's a self-respect thing. It's a respect for your teammates. It's a respect for this game. It's a respect for this country . . . It's an opportunity to realize how lucky you are and what you're doing."

Before Saturday night's contest against the New York Jets, the New York Giants chose to stand side-by-side from one 15-yard line to the other during the playing of the anthem.

Former Navy quarterback and current Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Keenan Reynolds took a neutral approach to Kaepernick's stance on the national anthem following his team's game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday night.

"Obviously, being in the military, I'm proud of that position, I'm proud of being able to defend the country, so humbled [by] other people that came before me and gave their lives so I can play on the field and run around and we can live freely in this country," Reynolds said. "But like I said, that's his right, and he's going to do what he has to do."